Doll therapy: Innovative treatment for patients with Alzheimer disease to improve patient and staff safety in a hospital setting.

BACKGROUND

Patients with Alzheimer disease may display negative neuropsychiatric symptoms that can pose patient safety risks.. Doll therapy is described in the literature as a successful diversional activity for these patients.

PURPOSE: This project aimed to provide doll therapy to patients with Alzheimer disease at their facility to reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms, improve patient safety, patient outcomes, and the patient and family experience, and to positively impact the health care team's experience when caring for this patient population.

METHODS

A total of 55 patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease participated in the doll therapy program. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. These included patient's behavior prior to doll therapy and the patient's response to doll therapy.

RESULTS

Patients experienced a sense of purpose and comfort, as well as decreased risk for falls, physical workplace violence events, and being placed in restraints as a result of doll therapy.